Mr. Hu and Mr. Jiang did not publicly spar. But there were signs that their relationship had become strained. Mr. Jiang rejected a framework for China's emergence as a great power that Mr. Hu supported. The policy framework, known by the slogan "peaceful rise," was dismissed by Mr. Jiang as too soft when China was threatening Taiwan with military force.

Q : What does "as too soft" mean? I think

The policy framework, known by the slogan "peaceful rise," was dismissed by Mr. Jiang as China was threatening Taiwan with military force too soft when China was threatening Taiwan with military force.